JEWISH ACTIVISTS DISRUPT LIEBERMAN CANDIDACY ANNOUNCEMENT
Citing Lieberman's support for Israeli military violence, activists challenge candidate.
STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT�Jewish activists disrupted Sen. Joseph Lieberman�s announcement of his presidential candidacy at Stamford High School and hisfirst campaign stop at the Stamford Diner. Holding placards and banners, 30 members of Jews Against the Occupation (JATO) chanted, "U.S. funds Israel�s War� Jewish Voters Say No More!" Two activists were arrested during the demonstration. JATO calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as well as an end to U.S. military and economic aid for Israel.
"Senator Lieberman claims to speak for American Jews when he calls for unconditional U.S. support for Israel. But increasingly, Jews in the U.S. and Israel reject the violent Israeli repression of Palestinian civilians," says Malcah Rosen of Stamford, one of the demonstrators.
JATO activists protested Israeli use of U.S. aid to finance human rights violations. Both the seizure of Palestinian land and collective punishment of Palestinian civilians, which are illegal under the Geneva Conventions, are made
possible by U.S. military and economic aid.
"Israel does not use U.S. aid for the purposes of advancing democracy and freedom. U.S. aid both directly and indirectly supports the military
infrastructure enabling mass detentions and killings of Palestinian civilians, as well as the destruction of Palestinian society. As Jews around the world voice their opposition to this war against a civilian population, United States
tax dollars perpetuate it," says Rebecca Levitsky of New York City.
Challenging Senator Lieberman�s position that the Israeli occupation is necessary, New York City resident Karen Goldman observes, "Lieberman has
characterized ending Israel�s military violence as �a crime of weakness� and affirms an unconditional �special relationship� between the U.S. and Israel. We must sever this relationship until Israel demonstrates a true interest in
peace and fair negotiation. As Israeli officials speak more and more of their intentions to engage in massive ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, we cannot allow the United States to continue to support the greatest crimes of this conflict."
Jews Against The Occupation is a New York City-based group of Jewish community leaders, and part of a growing movement of worldwide Jewish dissent against the illegal, violent actions of the Israeli government and the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
www.jewsagainstheoccupation.org
